The vice-chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University has hit back at new immigration rules stopping international students from bringing their families to the UK.

Home secretary Suella Braverman announced new immigration rules for international students entering the UK last Tuesday, May 23.

The rules will mean partners and children of postgraduate international students, aside from those enrolled in research programmes, will not be allowed to live in the country while their relative is studying.

Undergraduate international students are already not allowed to bring family members with them to the UK.

Professor Nick Braisby, vice-chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University, said: "We believe that international students should not be included within the net migration figures, since the vast majority return home at the end of their studies.

"This is supported by recent polling which shows that the public does not support international students being treated as immigrants.

"We are particularly concerned that the proposed restrictions will have a disproportionate impact on female international students."

Professor Braisby added that international students bring benefits to the UK including an annual economic profit of over £42 billion, and that the income generated from their tuition fees has helped to freeze university costs at the same cash value since 2012.

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Charlotte Leighton-Woods, President of Bucks Students' Union, said: "International students already have several harsh restrictions placed on them, which can make their experience more difficult than that of UK students.

"Whilst we work tirelessly to support them, the removal of bringing dependents means yet another source of support has been stripped from them.

"This is also likely to impact on the numbers of international students who choose to study in the UK, and on the educational outcomes for those who have their immediate support network removed."

According to the Office for National Statistics, a significant proportion of the record-high net migration figures seen in 2022 came from an increase in international students and their families coming to the UK.

The number of visas granted to the family members of international students in 2022 was nine times the amount recorded in 2019.

Home secretary Suella Braverman told The Times the move was part of a government pledge to cut net migration and would tackle "the unprecedented rise in the number of student dependents being brought into the country with visas".